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About the Series Editor

Ed Walsh

Ed is the series editor for Collins Key Stage 3 Science and has written for or edited over thirty books. He was a teacher for twenty years, twelve of them as team leader, and has worked in Manchester, South Wales and Cornwall. He has worked for Cornwall Council since 2002 as Science consultant and adviser and was seconded to the National Strategies for two years as regional and then senior adviser in London and the South East.

Ed runs CPD sessions at various events including the ASE Annual Conference and provides support for classroom teachers of pupils from 5 to 18. He is also involved in development work on the next generation of GCSE courses, an integrated curriculum for primary schools, guidance materials for CLEAPSS and training on the use of iPads in science teaching.

Ed lives in Truro with his wife; he likes going to the theatre, photography and walking the coastal footpath.

About the Authors

What do you get if you cross four former teachers, two Ofqual advisors, two CPD programme developers, 80 years of combined classroom experience and one international paraglider? The Collins Key Stage 3 Science author team!

Click on the profiles below to find out more about their backgrounds and experience, as well what they like to get up to when they’re not writing for Collins.

Dr Sarah Askey

Professional Tutor: Teacher EducationKey Stage 3 Science Author

Sarah has over twelve years teaching experience in a number of secondary schools including middle and senior leadership roles. Her interest in assessment was initiated by her involvement in the development and piloting of APP in science. Sarah moved into Local Authority School Improvement in 2009 before taking up her current position at Liverpool Hope University in 2012. She is passionate about providing and supporting quality training and professional development for teachers at all stages of their careers and has a keen interest in Kagan cooperative learning strategies.
Sarah is a lead subject expert for Ofqual, providing advice and evaluation of science specifications and qualifications. Over recent years she has been involved in the accreditation, standardisation and review of BTEC, GCSE, A level and an international comparison study. She is currently supporting the development of the new GCSE and A Level sciences.

Sarah has recently taught in and supported teacher development in two Tibetan Homes Foundation schools in India on behalf of the charity Hope One World. In her spare time Sarah enjoys yoga, geocaching and is a keen baker.

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Sunetra Berry

Independent Educational ConsultantKey Stage 3 Science Author

Having worked as teacher/head of science for seven years, Sunetra spent nearly ten years as Secondary National Strategy Consultant in Cumbria, supporting the improvement of teaching and learning and helping to raise standards both in science departments and across whole schools.

She has been involved in many other projects, including writing part of a primary science curriculum scheme for Abu Dhabi, writing gifted and talented teaching and assessment materials for the A Level Chemistry equivalent for Saudi Arabia and has been an external subject expert for Ofqual over the last few years. She has been an examiner for Environmental Science A Level for over fifteen years. Currently she is working as an independent educational consultant.

Sunetra lives in South Cumbria with her husband and two sons. She helps to run their family saw-mill, and enjoys spending time walking and climbing on the fells.

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Dr Tracey Baxter

Independent Educational ConsultantKey Stage 3 Science Author

Tracey began her career in virology research before becoming a secondary school Science teacher based in the North West. She went on to work as a consultant for two local authorities as part of the National Strategies initiative, before taking up her current role as an independent consultant.

Tracey now supports schools directly across the whole North West, with a particular focus on teaching and learning, curriculum development and assessment. She works with the Science Learning Centre North West, developing and delivering their CPD programme, as well as running workshops at conferences across the region. Tracey also works closely with an awarding organization, with a particular focus on vocational qualifications. She is an advisor for the Triple Science Support Programme and has had numerous materials published, ranging from Primary Science to A Level Biology.

Tracey has two lovely, lively boys that keep her busy in her spare time and enjoys a wide range of fitness activities.

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Pat Dower

Development Consultant in EducationKey Stage 3 Science Author

Pat has been involved in education for over 25 years; first teaching science in a number of secondary schools before moving into middle and senior leadership. From there he moved to a Local Authority School Improvement Team as part of the National Strategies. A period of working in industry has given Pat a particular interest in STEM career opportunities for students. His current work involves the development of schools, teaching and learning, curriculum support materials and assessment. He is closely involved with the Science Learning Centres and regularly provides CPD to Science teachers.

In his spare time Pat is a passionate paraglider pilot who competes at national and international level and coaches many people in the sport.